MTE syllabus

Intensity (average power per unit area) of an electromagnetic wave in free space

2 ⃗ 2 ⃗ 1
∇ 2⃗ E ⃗ − 2 2 = 0 ∇ 2⃗ B ⃗ − 2 2 = 0
1 ∂ E 1 ∂ B
Wave equations c=
c ∂t c ∂t μ0ϵ0

Plane-wave ⃗ ⃗
E = E 0e i( k ⋅⃗ r−ωt)
⃗
= E 0⃗ e i(kz−ωt)
If we assume that the EM wave is
solutions
B ⃗ = B 0⃗ e i( k ⋅⃗ r−ωt)
⃗ ⃗
= B 0e i(kz−ωt) propagating along z ̂ direction

• k is same for both E ⃗ and B ⃗ → Same velocity

• ω is same for both E ⃗ and B ⃗ → Same frequency

What about amplitudes?

E 0⃗ = E0x x ̂ + E0y ŷ + E0zz ̂
B 0⃗ = B0x x ̂ + B0y ŷ + B0zz ̂

These are planes waves propagating along z ̂ direction

∇ ⃗ ⋅ E ⃗ = 0 and ∇ ⃗ ⋅ B ⃗ = 0 elds are divergence-less
⇒ Eoz = 0 = Boz
fi
 (i) ∇ ⃗ ⋅ E ⃗ =
ρ
⃗
E (x, t) = [E0x x ̂ + E0y y]̂ e i(kz−ωt)
ϵ0
=0

These solutions must obey (ii) ∇ ⃗ ⋅ B ⃗ = 0

⃗ t) = B x ̂ + B ŷ e i(kz−ωt)
B (x, [ 0x 0y ] ⃗
(iii) ∇ ⃗ × E ⃗ = −
the Maxwell’s equations ∂ B
∂t
⃗ ⃗
(iv) ∇ ⃗ × B ⃗ = μ0 J ⃗ + μ0ϵ0
∂ E ∂ E
= μ0ϵ0
∂t ∂t

From equation (iii)

x̂ ŷ ẑ
= iω[B0xe x]̂
∂ ∂ ∂
i(kz−ωt) i(kz−ωt)
∂x ∂y ∂z x ̂ + B0xe
(..) (..)
E0xe E0ye 0

⇒ − kE0y = ωB0x , ⇒ kE0x = ωB0y

⇒ B 0⃗ = (z ̂ × E 0⃗ )
k Electric and magnetic elds are mutually perpendicular and
ω there is no phase di erence between them
ff
fi
 ω
ω = 2πn ⇒ n = Electrostatic energy density
2π (stored in the EM eld)
1 1 2
ω 2π u = (ϵ0E + B )
2
k= ⇒λ= 2 μ0
2λ k
ω For monochromatic plane
Wave velocity: v = nλ = = c (in free space) waves
k 2 1 2 2
B = 2 E = μ0ϵ0E
k 1 c
B0 = E0 = E0
ω c u= 2 2
ϵ0E0 cos (kz − ωt)

Solutions (real part): ⃗ t) = E cos(kz − ωt) x ̂

E (z, 0

⃗
B (z, t) =
E0
cos(kz − ωt) ŷ
c
Poynting vector:
⃗ = ( E ⃗ × B )⃗ =
1 1 1 2 2 2 2
E0 cos (kz − ωt)z ̂ = cϵ0E0 cos (kz − ωt)z ̂ ⃗ = cuz ̂
μ0 μ0 c
𝒫
𝒫
fi
 T
1 2π 1
T ∫0
2
Use cos (kz − t)dt =
T 2

Averages:
1
uav = ϵ0E02 ⃗ = cϵ E 2 z ̂
1
av 0 0
2 2

Intensity (average power per unit

I≡| ⃗ | = cϵ E 2 = cu
1
av 0 0 av
area transported by the EM wave): 2
𝒫
𝒫
Problem on electrostatic boundary conditions

1
×
sin θ1
× sin θ1

× sin 60
3
×
2
× 0.866

× 0.866

x ≈ 0.27
Problem on magnetostatic boundary conditions